Mignonette

I'm not quite sure exactly how to say what kind of music these guys play. It's sort of like punk played on old-time instruments. Their live show is nothing short of spectacular. The banjo and guitar players have a bass drum and a hi-hat which they pedal with their feet while picking their instruments. Their live harmonies are mind-blowing.... two of the guys can sing beautifully, and the third guy can essentially yell in tune, making for three-part harmonies that are loud, powerful, balanced, and a little bit gritty, just the way I like it.

These guys won't fit into tiny boxes, and verbal explanations don't seem to do them justice, so why not just listen to the album?

The Avett Brothers use an old-timey bluegrass format to display some of the most imaginative songwriting and harmonies around. They capture the flavor of the Old 97's with their lyrics, melody shifts in songs, and tunefulness, even when it seems like one of them is screaming his part of the tune. Somehow it works masterfully. "Swept Away" is the most memorable song on the album, and not just because it appears twice, in slightly different formats. Songs like "Hard Worker" will remind some of the great Hackensack Boys. And if you get a chance to catch them live, do it. They're funny and exciting performers.

If you see them you will love them. What are they? Alt-country? Punk Bluegrass? Piedmont stomp & roll? Truth is, they are a little of everything. You want to feel good for a long time? Buy this CD. Swept Away is a hit waiting to happen, Please Pardon Yourself is even better. This is a great CD and proves there is lots of good music out there that escapes the main stream. An earlier CD of their's, Carolina Jubilee, is not as polished but still very, very good. Whatever you do, see them live if you get the chance.
www.theavettbrothers.com